News/Events

October 5, 2005 - Archbishop O’Malley Joins Lynn Mayor Clancy at the Dedication of the St. Jean Baptiste Neighborhood

Neighborhood revitalization initiative made possible through partnership of city and state officials, public agencies and private lenders

October 5, 2005 - LYNN, MA – Archbishop Seán Patrick O’Malley and the Planning Office for Urban Affairs (POUA) in partnership with the Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development (LHAND) hosted a ceremony today to celebrate the dedication of the St. Jean Baptiste Neighborhood Revitalization. The $9 million revitalization initiative includes 38 units of mixed-income housing, with 24 affordable rental units and 14 first-time buyer units, and a community facility that will offer educational and empowerment programs for young adults.

The neighborhood revitalization initiative broke ground in December 2003 at the site of the former St. Jean Baptiste Church at the corner of Franklin and Lyman Streets in Lynn. The redevelopment of this former parish property is one of the five developments undertaken by POUA in partnership with FleetBoston Financial (now Bank of America) and State Street Corporation to help redevelop former Archdiocesan properties as affordable housing.

“The St. Jean Baptiste development is a terrific example of smart growth and it shows how the blending of public and private resources fosters neighborhood revitalization," said Governor Mitt Romney. "Partnerships like these provide high quality housing opportunities for those across a broad range of incomes while ensuring vibrant and prosperous communities throughout the Commonwealth.”

The Planning Office for Urban Affairs collaborated closely on the St. Jean’s initiative with the Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development, with both organizations acting as co-sponsors and co-owners of the development. The project also received support and guidance from key members of the Lynn community including St. Mary’s Parish in Lynn, led by Msgr. Paul Garrity, Mayor Clancy, U.S. Congressman Tierney, State Senator McGee, and Lynn City Council President James Cowdell. Financing for the development was provided by Bank of America, the Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development, MassHousing, Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation, Massachusetts Housing Partnership, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, and the Highland Street Connection.

“As we dedicate this development, the spirit of the St. Jean Baptiste Church remains present in the families who now call it home,” said Mayor Edward “Chip” Clancy Jr. “In addition to providing much needed affordable housing, the commitment by the Archdiocese and LHAND to this neighborhood has provided a renewed sense of stability and confidence that reinvestment in West Lynn will continue in the years to come.”

The dedication ceremony will focus on the completion of the new development, and on revitalization efforts in the Lynn Commons neighborhood that have resulted from this Archdiocesan and City sponsored initiative. In the past 18 months since the St. Jean’s development broke ground countless improvements have been made to nearby properties, including house painting, roof and porch repairs, landscaping & lighting improvements, and a new condominium development, representing precisely the type of additional investment the St. Jean’s Revitalization initiative was designed to inspire. This additional local investment came about through the concerted effort of the City of Lynn to capitalize on the reinvestment at St. Jean’s, by making 58 grants and loans for improvements available to property owners throughout the neighborhood.

"Today we dedicate new homes and a community center as part of the Church's ongoing commitment to work with local communities for the common good. This neighborhood revitalization honors the people of St. Jean Baptiste parish who established a heritage of caring for family, friend, and neighbor as sign of their faith," said Archbishop Sean O'Malley. "The Archdiocese is proud to have participated in the efforts to assure a bright and strong future for this neighborhood. Many people contributed to the success of this project and at this time I wish in particular to express my gratitude to the City of Lynn and to the Planning Office for Urban Affairs for their commitment to providing affordable housing on behalf of the Church."

Established in 1969, the Planning Office for Urban Affairs is a self-sustaining social justice ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston that strives to create vibrant communities through the development of high quality affordable and mixed income housing, where people of modest means can live with dignity and respect. As a foremost non-profit developer in the Northeast and a leading diocesan housing ministry for the Catholic Church in America, POUA has created nearly 2,200 units of affordable and mixed- income housing, providing homes for more than 10,000 people.

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